New projects totaling nearly $1B now taking shape in Lake Nona

Continued evidence of Nona' bright future!

If you thought Lake Nona was teeming with construction before, just wait.

The 17-square-mile southeast Orlando community this month is gearing up plans for at least three new big projects, is adding to a fourth and preparing to expand a fifth — in all, close to $1 billion in construction value.

The Lake Nona Town Center Phase 2A includes 1.2 million square feet of shops,… more

The projects range from global audit giant KPMG LLP’s new $430 million training facility to a new $15 million-$25 million golf-themed entertainment concept called Drive Shack.

Impact: These are the next round of tenants in the 467,369-square-foot Lake Nona Landing shopping center, which already features a Walmart Supercenter and Sam’s Club, and brings a huge, much-needed shopping and dining element to the area.

Status: Now under construction; several general contractors are involved on the multiple buildings, including Marcobay Construction, RA Rogers Construction Co. LLC, Mulligan Constructors and RLH Construction

Impact: Will create about 1,000 jobs by 2020; expected to generate about 1,000 weekly airline trips by trainees once completed

Status: Grading to begin this summer, foundation work to start in the fall; general contractor has not yet been selected.

3. “Project Mojo”/Airport South PD

Cost: $86 million

Plans: This is the master plan for what appears to be a new fulfillment distribution facility for Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN). The 131-acre project would include a 51-foot-high warehouse/distribution facility with a footprint of 855,000 square feet and 2.3 million square feet total including mezzanines with 2,784 parking spaces.

Expected completion: N/A

Impact: An Amazon fulfillment center is landscape-changing for the community, as it would bring thousands of jobs to the region as well as give Orlando better access to Amazon Prime, the e-commerce giant’s fast-spreading same-day delivery service.

Status: Atlanta-based developer Seefried Industrial Properties Inc. submitted permit documents on May 19; the Orange County Commission was slated to approve the project on May 24; Amazon is expected to sign on as a tenant in the facility by next month. The land is still owned by Tavistock Development Co. LLC’s related entity, Crockett Development Property LLC.

4. Lake Nona Town Center Phase 2A

Cost: $300 million

Plans: 1.2 million square feet of shops, restaurants, services and entertainment facilities — including a brewery, bowling alley and medical fitness facility in partnership with the University of Central Florida — along with about 200 hotel rooms and structured parking

Expected completion: N/A

Impact: Will bring a new entertainment element to Lake Nona, generating jobs in addition to the 5,000-plus already created by the 650-acre Medical City life sciences hub and the $100 million USTA National Campus

Status: Construction is expected to start by year’s end.

5. Drive Shack

Cost: $15 million-$25 million

Plans: A three-story, 57,000-square-foot driving range entertainment facility that will feature technologically enhanced golf games using TaylorMade clubs; also includes a restaurant, lounge, bar, hitting bays and meeting spaces

Expected completion: First-quarter 2018

Impact: This is the next piece of Lake Nona’s 300-acre Sports & Performance District, which boasts the $100 million USTA National Campus; $1.4 million USTA Florida headquarters; U.S. Professional Tennis Association complex; and a $20 million Orlando City Soccer Club training facility.

Status: Permit valued at $10 million was issued by city of Orlando on May 17 to start construction; Franklin, Tenn.-based The Parkes Cos. is the general contractor; Kansas City, Mo.-based Populous is the project architect; Walter P. Moore is the structural engineer; ME Engineers is handling mechanical, electrical and plumbing; and Howe Engineers is the code engineer.

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